What is the surgery like? - Lasik Eye Surgery Message Board

LasikCurious · 07-24-2007, 06:45 PM

Hi,

I'm thinking about Lasik and I went to the FDA website on it. Does it hurt when they open the eye wide and cut the cornea? Do you see the blade coming down to the eye?

I'm the squeamish wimpy type. Will Lasik scare me?

eruiz67 · 07-24-2007, 10:03 PM

Does not hurt just a little uncomfortable when they have to put the device to hold your eyes open....You can't see the blade or anything like that....You just see a light and they tell you to look directly into it....It's over before you know it....

Mel52 · 07-24-2007, 11:07 PM

I had the surgery done about 7 years ago. I was totally freaked as anything with the eyes gets to me. The worst part of the surgery was the anticipation. There was NO pain. Drops are put in the eyes. They do put something that clamps on to keep the eye open. I never felt the sensation or necessity to have to escape anything approaching my eye. I looked into a red light and just stared at it. The surgeon lifted the cornea and the only reasons I knew was because he told me and because my vision became very blurry. He did the lazer, zap zap said he was going to fix my stigmatism, zap zap, said he was putting the cornea back done. While he moved it I felt a bit dizzy and then everything cleared. Next eye...Total time about 5 minutes.
I had to sit in the waiting room for about 20 minutes and put drops in my eyes. My friend drove me home and it felt good to just keep my eyes closed, vision blurry from all the drops. I got home, had a headache, took a tylenol, put the plastic guard over my eyes for the night so I wouldn't scratch and went to sleep. My vision was too blurry to do anything else and it felt better to keep the eyes closed, they kind of itched. In the morning I got up and could see all the way across the room. Colors were so vivid. For me, it was a tradeoff. I can see far away now but I can not read price tags, read the paper, use the computer without glasses.

jakem1 · 07-25-2007, 08:12 AM

There is no pain, it is over before you know it. There is no blade, it is a laser that cuts the Lasik flap and a suction lifts it, then the laser removes tissue to reshape the cornea. All you see is a bright red light they tell you to focus on.

The freaky thing is the burning smell of your corneal tissue being incinerated by the laser, but it is over so quick it is very easy.

dammie · 07-25-2007, 08:34 AM

If you're considering it, a lot of people will tell you it was the best thing they ever did. It doesn't hurt and like the other posters have said it's over before you know it. When they use that suction thing on your eye, you do feel pressure and it is a little uncomfortable, but they warn you before they do it.